Recommendations for a 4-5 star Hotel In Venice

Hotel Saturnia & International is probably the nicest place we’ve ever stayed. High end hotel and high end staff and concierge to take care of your every need. It has a private water taxi door as well as some really big suites. We’ve stayed there 3 times as recently as this past Christmas. Too bad you only have 1 night.

If you want an extremely nice high-end hotel and want to splurge for your one night, I would recommend San Clemente Palace. Admittedly, we stayed there quite a while ago (2007 or so), but it was amazing and we still talk about it whenever the subject of Venice arises. A former women's asylum built by the Austrians, it is located on an island in the Venice Lagoon. They have their own boats to take you into Venice. We still remember the fantastic breakfasts and dinners there. I know that this will make Venice-lovers cringe, but my wife, daughter and I all felt that the hotel was the highlight of our Venetian experience.

Having only 1 night in Venice and staying on an entirely separate island and having to travel between the two is just not the way to see Venice...

The boat ride into Venice was not too long (15 minutes from the island to the Piazza San Marco). It was also nice to escape from the crowds. The OP asked the question and I provided a recommendation. To each his own.

Thanks guys, much appreciated. We do have one night before we board the Oceania Riveria cruise, however, the ship does not leave until 11/2. We will be in Venice in a hotel on 10/31 and then board the ship on 11/1 so we have a couple days to see the sites.
I am not much one for small European hotel rooms which can be tight especially with luggage and where you have climb three flights of narrow stairs with your cruise luggage. A larger hotel with all the amenities is in order.

My brother-in-law and his wife are "high end" travelers and chose Ca' Segredo when they joined us in Venice a couple of years ago.

https://www.casagredohotel.com

We accompanied them to check in ( enjoying a water taxi ride on the way) and I was impressed with the room size and hotel location. It is right on the Grand Canal near, but not in view of, the Rialto Bridge. There is a dock for water taxi landing or the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop is right there too. ( I am guessing you will want the water taxi with cruise luggage, as the vaporetti can be very crowded). You can cross to the Rialto Market side by traghetto, one of the few left in Venice.

A double room (25 m square) would be around 250€ that night, or a junior suite (35 m square) around 350€. The hotel does have an elevator. And they said the breakfast was very good.

There are other luxury hotels such as the Cipriani, the Danieli, Gritti Palace, etc., but they are on Giudecca or right by San Marco, farther from the cruise ship dock and not as convenient for a one-night stay.

The Hilton Molino Stucky is also on Giudecca, but much closer to the cruise ship dock, and they do provide a shuttle service across the Giudecca Canal. I d not know anything about their rooms but it might be worth a look. The pool and rooftop terrace look very nice!

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/italy/hilton-molino-stucky-venice-VCEHIHI/index.html

I just checked the Molino Stucky and see a King Deluxe room with view, 30 square meters, is 247€ if you are a Hilton Honors member, or join when booking. No breakfast included, but I would still find that pretty tempting.

We stayed on the Grand Canal, luxury hotel, vaporetto dock out front. Couldn’t sleep due to vaporettos hitting dock into wee hours of night. The Grand Canal is like a busy highway! Never again. Next few Venice visits we stayed back in neighborhoods with small canals.

We’ve dined here but not stayed. That is on my bucket list: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/vcegl-the-gritti-palace-a-luxury-collection-hotel-venice/

San Clemente Palace - it's too expensive, I think. Look for something cheaper (San Clemente Palace costs about 850$ for night).

I don't know where @anyhotelreview came up with $850/night. I just did a quick price check of the San Clemente Palace on the hotel's website, and put in arrival 31 October, departure 1 November; 1 room; 2 adults. There is a myriad of room choices, with prices ranging from 304 Euros (super early booker rate) for a Superior Room to 9,500 Euros for a special San Clemente Suite. If you are willing to spend 300-400 Euros for one night, you will not regret it. The hotel was absolutely fantastic. As I said in my first post, it was the highlight of our visit to Venice.

Maybe early booking costs lower, i don't know. It was a price from their website

I stayed at Hotel Olimpia. Very close & easy to get to from the train station. I had a very nice stay.